AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR's three major national series and NHRA Racing's Top Fuel and Funny Car series, is honoring and supporting U.S. Armed Forces by transforming the appearance of all related racing tires over the September 16th weekend. This marks the second straight year that Goodyear has altered the sidewalls of its race tires to honor U.S. troops.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodyear-changes-the-face-of-nascar-and-nhra-tires-to-recognize-the-sacrifices-made-by-americas-armed-forces-129978433.html

The design, featuring a patriotic color scheme reading "Support Our Troops" on the tires' sidewalls, replaces the traditional "Goodyear Eagle" or "Goodyear Wrangler" sidewalls that are used in races every week. The sidewall change coincides with the launch of the "Goodyear Support Our Troops" initiative, an eleven-week awareness and fund-raising effort designed to generate support and honor the sacrifices of armed forces and their families at home.

"The sacrifices that soldiers and their families make for us every day deserve recognition. We hope that through the symbolic gesture of changing our tires, coupled with a grassroots fund-raising campaign, we can help make a difference in the lives of the troops and their families," said Garth Ely, Goodyear director of brand marketing. "There are many tangible ways that Goodyear is helping military families, ranging from donating tires to military families in acute need, providing care packages to deployed troops, to offering a special military tire rebate."

"We are very proud to have an iconic American company like Goodyear once again support us in our efforts to positively impact the lives of our country's service men and women and their families," said Martin C. Boire, executive director of Support Our Troops®.  "We are happy that NASCAR and NHRA fans - some of the most patriotic and dedicated fans in the world – will have even more great ways to show their support through this year's program, and we encourage them to follow the lead of Goodyear, NASCAR and NHRA."

The 2011 Goodyear Support Our Troops Program includes the donation of tires to help military families, a special Goodyear tire rebate that will be offered for the duration of the program, and a marketing campaign to raise awareness and trigger consumer involvement. Consumers and race fans can personally get involved in a variety of ways starting this weekend. Opportunities range from spreading the word that military families can take advantage of incremental savings on tires, to donating to the Support Our Troops organization. Goodyear is providing a chance for fans to show support through bidding on the authentic, race-used Goodyear Support Our Troops NASCAR and NHRA tires from the September 18th NASCAR Geico 400 and O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA National Top Fuel and Funny Car races – autographed by the drivers who used them – as well as great experiences and items donated by many NASCAR and NHRA teams and other sponsors.  

This second year of the program features unique new ways for consumers to join Goodyear in supporting the troops, including visiting www.goodyear.com/supportourtroops. There, they can experience the Goodyear Bootcamp Challenge, a first of its kind competition between NASCAR and NHRA drivers in a battle to see who really is the fastest off the track.  The Challenge will pit drivers from both sports, such as Joey Logano and Tony Schumacher, in a series of physical events that use Goodyear Racing Eagles during a test of strength, speed and agility.  Drivers from both sports not participating in the actual competition will be joining in the fun through a series of videos that will be posted throughout the program on Goodyear's website.

"Consumers can also help support our troops by sharing the details with their friends, family and any military members they know and urging them to visit www.goodyear.com/supportourtroops to get involved," added Kris Kienzl, Goodyear marketing manager.  "They can also help financially by texting the word "Troops" to 20222 to make a contribution*, donating all or part of their rebate during Goodyear's 'Traction in Action Tire Sale' or by making a donation directly to Support Our Troops."

All funds raised will be donated to Support Our Troops, a nonprofit nationwide organization, which bolsters the morale and well-being of America's troops and their families. The funds raised through the Goodyear effort will benefit the organization's highly effective programs, which deliver more than $10 million per year in care packs and requested items to the front lines, positive support at home, kids' camp assistance and more.  

Goodyear has a longstanding history with the U.S. Armed Forces, with over 100 years of commitment to building innovative and reliable equipment to support and protect our troops. To this day, Goodyear's commitment extends beyond products and charitable donations; priding itself on hosting events at U.S. military bases throughout the year, bringing service men and women and their families a chance to interact with drivers and take rides on the Goodyear Blimp.

* $10.00 will be charged to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Msg & data rates may apply. Service is available on most carriers. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Terms: www.hmgf.org/t. Text STOP to 20222 to unsubscribe; text HELP to 20222 for help.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 100 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series. 

Also part of NASCAR is Grand-Am Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in eight cities across North America. The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the second in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, is the GEICO 400 in Joliet, Ill., which will air Sept. 18 on ESPN at 2:00 p.m. ET. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR.

About NHRA

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2011.  As the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States, NHRA presents 22 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag

Racing Series and NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Two NHRA-sanctioned bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels: the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA.  NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.  In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

About Support Our Troops®

SupportOurTroops.Org provides simple constructive ways for citizens and community minded businesses to show their patriotism and appreciation for those who sacrifice so much to protect our country, our homes, our families, and our American way of life.

Support Our Troops® is a registered trademark licensed through SupportOurTroops.org  The official SupportOurTroops.Org website is a nationwide platform for individuals, organizations, businesses and non-profits to bolster America's troops and their families in a multitude of ways. It is a moral covenant with those who serve to protect us and our families. SupportOurTroops.Org is a resource that was not available to previous generations of troops, which now stands as a permanent living testament to the affection, gratitude and loyalty good Americans hold for those who do so much for all of us every day.

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies.  It employs approximately 69,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world.  Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.  For more information about Goodyear, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

SOURCE Goodyear